Cheaper Way to Import for Canucks
#1
Cheaper Way to Import for Canucks
Hi all from the West Coast of Canada. I have been trying to figure out how to get a Superlift kit up here the cheapest way for quite a while. Canadian dealers for SL just stomp on the price of an already expensive lift kit. As an example I was quoted $3560 CDN for the kit at one place and $3300 at another Canadian dealer. They were trying to tell me price was so high due to dollar exchange rates (US and CDN bucks are basically even) one guy even said it was more as SL had filed for Chapter 11 (they did but are back on line) and were out of production.
Ended up buying on line in the US but the catch was free shipping only applies to US addresses. If us Northern folks use an outfit like UPS we get horribly gouged with fees and such. Did some research and there are a buch of drop shippers right along the border that you can have your stuff shipped to and all you have to do is go down and pick it up. Drop shippers charge a nominal fee (like $4.00 for packages under 70 lbs and $7.00 for packages over 70 lbs, tires are $5.00 each and pallets are $8.00)
Only wrinkle was I had to call credit card company to pass on the drop shippers address as an alternate shipping address before I could order the first time. Once that was done smooth as silk.
Basically you use the drop shipper address as your own with your own telephone #
Package ends up looking like this:
Your Name
Drop Ship St
WA 123456
your phone #
Drop shipper will call/email when package arrives.
If you are using USPS you need to fill out some sort of form at drop shipper. I did not bother as USPS sends through Canada Post and only charges $5.00 brokerage fee and half the time I don't even get nailed for duty/taxes etc by the Canada Post folks.
Careful picking your drop shipper as some charge registration/membership fees, some will not accept pallets or tires. Do your homework and save a bundle.
I work very close to a border crossing (like 8 mins away) and have a NEXUS card. The drop shipper is about 200 yards inside the US. I can make it there on my half hour lunch break, pick up and get back across the border before anyone misses me if I phone ahead. Yes I have to pay the Canadian sales tax on the US value but who cares as I would have had to pay Canadian Sales Tax on the actual price I paid in Canada anyway.
Took the price down to $2199.00 US all in shipping included. Ordered yesterday arrives tomorrow and saved more than $1500 (with taxes) doing it this way.
Now to order some nice rims and 33's (plus TPMS cr@p) and good to go. Actually I am keeping factory wheels and tires on for winter and will put 33's on in spring. Don't like the idea of a big fat tire in the snow oh and my chains fit those tires.
Anyway just a suggestion for the rest of you Canucklehead's out there who live close to the 49th parallel (and that is most of us.)
Dave
Ended up buying on line in the US but the catch was free shipping only applies to US addresses. If us Northern folks use an outfit like UPS we get horribly gouged with fees and such. Did some research and there are a buch of drop shippers right along the border that you can have your stuff shipped to and all you have to do is go down and pick it up. Drop shippers charge a nominal fee (like $4.00 for packages under 70 lbs and $7.00 for packages over 70 lbs, tires are $5.00 each and pallets are $8.00)
Only wrinkle was I had to call credit card company to pass on the drop shippers address as an alternate shipping address before I could order the first time. Once that was done smooth as silk.
Basically you use the drop shipper address as your own with your own telephone #
Package ends up looking like this:
Your Name
Drop Ship St
WA 123456
your phone #
Drop shipper will call/email when package arrives.
If you are using USPS you need to fill out some sort of form at drop shipper. I did not bother as USPS sends through Canada Post and only charges $5.00 brokerage fee and half the time I don't even get nailed for duty/taxes etc by the Canada Post folks.
Careful picking your drop shipper as some charge registration/membership fees, some will not accept pallets or tires. Do your homework and save a bundle.
I work very close to a border crossing (like 8 mins away) and have a NEXUS card. The drop shipper is about 200 yards inside the US. I can make it there on my half hour lunch break, pick up and get back across the border before anyone misses me if I phone ahead. Yes I have to pay the Canadian sales tax on the US value but who cares as I would have had to pay Canadian Sales Tax on the actual price I paid in Canada anyway.
Took the price down to $2199.00 US all in shipping included. Ordered yesterday arrives tomorrow and saved more than $1500 (with taxes) doing it this way.
Now to order some nice rims and 33's (plus TPMS cr@p) and good to go. Actually I am keeping factory wheels and tires on for winter and will put 33's on in spring. Don't like the idea of a big fat tire in the snow oh and my chains fit those tires.
Anyway just a suggestion for the rest of you Canucklehead's out there who live close to the 49th parallel (and that is most of us.)
Dave
#3
Depends if I am working, then it's Nanaimo, Tsawwassen or Victoria, I live in Nanaimo but work in all three places. You probably just figured out who I work for....
When I am not it is Sointula...
The drop shipper I am using is in Point Roberts about 8 mins from Tsawwassen.
09 FX4 like the sig says. Soon to have SL 4" lift. Already have the M90 (I love FleaBay) and will do that with an RPCaster set up in the spring
edit just realized my sig doesnt say I have a Ranger D'oh!
When I am not it is Sointula...
The drop shipper I am using is in Point Roberts about 8 mins from Tsawwassen.
09 FX4 like the sig says. Soon to have SL 4" lift. Already have the M90 (I love FleaBay) and will do that with an RPCaster set up in the spring
edit just realized my sig doesnt say I have a Ranger D'oh!
Last edited by Matlow; 10-26-2010 at 07:47 PM. Reason: Skrewed up
#5
#6
#7
Ended up buying on line in the US but the catch was free shipping only applies to US addresses. If us Northern folks use an outfit like UPS we get horribly gouged with fees and such. Did some research and there are a buch of drop shippers right along the border that you can have your stuff shipped to and all you have to do is go down and pick it up. Drop shippers charge a nominal fee (like $4.00 for packages under 70 lbs and $7.00 for packages over 70 lbs, tires are $5.00 each and pallets are $8.00)
Basically you use the drop shipper address as your own with your own telephone #
Package ends up looking like this:
Your Name
Drop Ship St
WA 123456
your phone #
Drop shipper will call/email when package arrives.
Yes I have to pay the Canadian sales tax on the US value but who cares as I would have had to pay Canadian Sales Tax on the actual price I paid in Canada anyway.
Anyway just a suggestion for the rest of you Canucklehead's out there who live close to the 49th parallel (and that is most of us.)
Dave
Basically you use the drop shipper address as your own with your own telephone #
Package ends up looking like this:
Your Name
Drop Ship St
WA 123456
your phone #
Drop shipper will call/email when package arrives.
Yes I have to pay the Canadian sales tax on the US value but who cares as I would have had to pay Canadian Sales Tax on the actual price I paid in Canada anyway.
Anyway just a suggestion for the rest of you Canucklehead's out there who live close to the 49th parallel (and that is most of us.)
Dave
i had one box and it cost me $5 to have Summit Racing ship it there. i was told they charge $5/box. i did something similar for the shipping address. Summit has a billing address and a shipping address. the billing was my CC. the shipping was the UPS store.
my parts were $290, i paid $5 to the UPS store and i paid $30 in tax at the border.
if that doesn't work. make friends over the border and just "go for a visit" once in a while. of course be sure to declare the items.
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